Don`t Miss
THE ROMAN AMPHITHEATRE - ARENA (Pula): is the masterpiece of the Roman architecture. It was built in the 1st century AD during the Emperor Vespasianus. By its elliptical shape and axes dimensions 133 x 105 m and capacity of 23000 spectators, it is one of the six largest Roman amphitheatres in the world. The amphitheatre was built of massive blocks o Istrian lime-stone and has three floors. The two lower floors are made of 72 arcade arches and the third row has 64 square windows. Built for gladiatorial contests, now the amphitheatre is the place where numerous and varius cultural events are being held.
BASILICA OF EUPHRASIUS (Poreč): is a unique example of Byzantine art. It was built in the 6th century during the period of Bishop Euphrasius, on the site of the older basilica, and in 1997. it has been registered as the UNESCO protected world cultural heritage. The basilica is a part of the sacral complex with a 6th – cantury octogonal baptistery, bell tower, a colonnaded atrium with medieval finds and bishop's palace. The most impressive part of the Basilica are the mosaics in the apse. In the centre of the mosaic there is the sitting figure of Our Lady with the Child in her arms, and that is the only surviving depiction of the Mother of God in an early- Christian western basilica.
MOTOVUN: is a ancient picturesque little town on the hill above the valley of the river Mirna. This is city is also known as the best- preserved Middle- Ages city in Istria. Don't miss the wiev from the fortification walls and degustation of famous black and white truffles from the Motovun Wood. In the beginning of August Motovun becomes very lively, in the sign of cinema, as there is held the International Motovun Film Festival.
GROŽNJAN – ''town of artists'' is situated on a hilltop over the Mirna River, near the city Buje. The well preserved town walls and towers, the town gate, Renaissance loggia, authentic architecture and stone paved streets will impress the visitors. But the main characteristic of Grožnjan today are numerous galleries and studios as well es frequent concerts of classical and jazz music, especially in the summer.
HUM – is the city with only about twenty inhabitants and therfore widely known as the smallest town in the world. Within the well-preserved town walls there are only two small streets and the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary from the 19th century. The Gate of Hum is the last monument of the Glagolitic Alley. Hum has an interessting traditional custom of electing the county prefect on a year mandate. Don't miss the Church of St. Jeronim from the 12th century with frescoes painting and the specialty of Hum – brandy ''Biska'', made of mistletoe.
GLAGOLITIC ALLEY (Hum) is an exceptional memorial to an old Croatian alphabet - Glagolitic alphabet. The alley between Roč and Hum is 7 km long and has 11 monuments. Tha last monument is the Gate of the ''smallest city in the world'' - Hum.
CHURCH OF ST.MARY (Beram) – is a small chapel in the woods near Beram, extremly important for its fascinating frescoes from the 15th century, with the scenes of Christ's and the Virgin Mary's lives.
The frescoes were painted by the great master Vincent from Kastav and his copainters, and the most
Famous scene are the Dance of Death and the Fortune Wheel. The church is closed so when you are in Beram ask the local for the key.
THE CASTLE OF PAZIN – Pazin is the city situated in the center of the Istrian peninsula and it is the headquarters of the Istrian County. The Castle of Pazin is the most beautiful and best preserved medieval fort in Istria. First written records about the Castle are found in the 10th century and in that time Pazin was under the jurisdiction of the Poreč Bishops. Since that time Pazin changed numerous proprietors from Poreč Bishops, Aquilean patriarchs, Gorica counts, Austrian Grand Dukes, the Habsburgs up to the Montecuccoli counts who owned the castle until the 1945. Today the castle houses the Ethnographic Museum of Istria and the Museum of Town Pazin. The castle and the Pazin's Pit near the Castle, with 130 metres deep abyss, inspired the French writer Jules Verne for the novel Mathias Sandorf, whos hero Mathias was imprisoned in the Pazin's fort.
THE CHURCH OF ST.BLAISE (Vodnjan): the Baroque 18th- century church is the largest in Istria with the tallest bell tower (63 m). The church is housing the mummified bodies of three saints (Saint Leon Bembo, Saint Giovanni Olini and Saint Nicolosa Bursa) which have been completely preserved till now, as well as assorted parts of three others saints. In addition to the ''mummies'' the church also has an important Collection of sacral art, with 370 relics and objects from the 5th to the 19th century.
DVIGRAD –close to Kanfanar, was a small mediaeval town abandoned because of plague and malaria. The name itself means two castles (or two towns, as in the Middle Ages there stood two castels on two opposite hills: Moncastello and Cestel Parentin with approximately 200 houses. After the epidemics Dvigrad started declining and about the year 1631 the town was completely deserted.Today the ruins of Dvigrad (remains of the St. Sophia Church, town gates, parts of houses and city walls) are attracting many tourist. In the summer international Dvigrad Festival of Early Music is held and one of the aims is to renew the town.
